Man raped ex-girlfriend who later took her own life

Ryan Graham committed the offence while on bail for another sex attack on her.

Ryan Graham: Rapist told police 'I'm not a beast'.

A man raped his former partner, who later took her own life, while out on bail for another sex attack on her.

Ryan Graham assaulted the woman at a house in Irvine, North Ayrshire, after an argument in March.

The 34-year-old victim left a letter describing the brutal attack but Graham told police: "I'm not a beast."

At the High Court in Glasgow, the 24-year-old was unanimously convicted of a sexual assault and rape.

Graham smirked when the verdict was read and gave a thumbs-up to his family in the public gallery.

In the letter discovered by police after her death, Graham's victim said he had confronted her for reporting the first attack and threatened to stab her.

The letter said that Graham told her: "Getting me done with a rape charge, I'll show you rape."

Defence QC Donald Findlay argued unsuccessfully that it was a breach of Graham's human rights that he was not able to cross-examine his victim.

He said: "The trial is unfair to my client. The defence has not been able to challenge the complainer's evidence. The accused's special defence could not be tested."

Graham will be sentenced at a later date.

Police Scotland detective chief inspector John Hogg said: "This is truly a tragic set of circumstances and sadly, his victim is not here to see Ryan Graham convicted of the horrendous crimes he put her through.

"I hope that her family and friends take some comfort in the knowledge that this case has been seen through to court and he is now being held accountable for his despicable actions.

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